Moyer Will be Missed

Didn’t get a chance to chime in yesterday on the news that Jamie Moyer had elected for free agency – along with Greg Dobbs – and would be gunning for a chance to pitch as a 48-year old next season. That likely won’t happen in Philadelphia, unless he wants to take a minor league deal and attempt to beat out the likes of Kyle Kendrick, Vance Worley, and others for the fifth starter spot.

Moyer will certainly be missed as both a pitcher and mentor should his tenure in Philly come to close for good. In five seasons with the Phillies, Moyer accumulated 56 wins and 40 losses despite an ERA in the mid-fours. His numbers were aided by a powerful offense for much of his time here, however, the dude was a gamer and for pitching well into his 40’s, there’s not much bad you can say about him.

The one gripe anyone may have with Moyer was the way he handled his demotion to the bullpen late in 2009. He appeared sullen in a newfound role, but complained little and tried to produce when called upon. Moyer is clearly a passionate performer but during that time his game was not suitable for the rotation.

In 2010, he came back and was relatively outstanding early on before another injury derailed his season. He finished the 2010 year with a 9-9 record and a 4.84 ERA – numbers that don’t really scream fifth starter material.

In any case, Moyer will rehab his elbow injury by pitching in the Dominican League this winter, seemingly uncharted territory for a man who has made a lot of money for a lot of years. His passion is to continue pitching until no one wants him or he can no longer do so – his love of the game cannot be questioned. And when we questioned his ability following the 2008 title year (many said he should hang the cleats up then), Moyer came out and won 21 more games. You can tell me until you’re blue in the face that wins are overrated, but that’s still a remarkable feat at that age.

His calling will pitching coach once he decides to retire – that’s a given. For now though, Moyer will give it another try in Benjamin Button-like fashion. He’ll have to think and act like a rookie again at the ripe old age of 47 (he turns 48 next month). The odds are against him, but they have been for some time. Will we see him in a Phillies uniform again? Unlikely. Still, wherever Moyer ends up, it was a hell of a ride here in Philadelphia.

19 Comments

I wish the best to Jamie. Those 2 CG’s (one a shutout) he gave us this year were a great help to the team. I hope he doesn’t try to stay around too long like Carlton did, it can get ugly quick at that age. That said, he has defied all his doubters before.

He can’t get out of here fast enough for me. Thanks for holding us up for another 8 million and a 2nd year, can’t believe we bit on that contract. His games were unwatchable and the bullpen thing really pissed me off. Nice guy though.

Jamie was pretty darned good this year. He was always prone to that one, 4-run inning it seemed when all the damage was done against him. But take out his 3 worst games, especially that 1 IP, 9 ER performance against the Red Sox and all of a sudden that ERA comes down into the low 4’s. Not bad at all for a number 5 starter.

I’ll be pulling for him…, maybe not with us, but definately a good guy. I don’t think Kendrick or Worley are the answers, though. I’ve been in Kendrick’s corner until this year. Is he ever going to turn the corner or is he going to be inconsistent all the time?

I agree w/everyone (except Todd). Honestly I was hoping this was Jamie’s last yr, that he’d stop & become a coach. I’m kind of sad to read he’s going to continue. But naturally I’ll pull for him to do well wherever he ends up.

Sad to see him leave, but really it is the right time. My favorite moment from him this year was stellar outing against the Yankees at Yankee stadium. The Phillies were in one of their deep slumps, and the Yankees had just shelled Halladay the night before, and it was basically a given that Moyer would not make it out of the first inning (he had a horrible start in Boston I think right before that…) So what does he do? He comes out throws 7 innings basically mowing down the Yankees and helps the Phils to a much needed win…that guy would always surprise when you counted him out, I wish him the best.

I dont give 2 craps if Cliff lee wins a title this year. Or if he pitches well.
In general once a phillie leaves I say good bye. And thats that.

Ill root for Moyer wherever he goes. Its such a great story.
People dont understand what we were privlidged to see.
I had some of my most fun defending Jamie and showing people how he had won more games than some guys with better arms.
Ill miss him and wish him the best.
great guy

If he can still pitch why wouldnt he?
He was good this year. He should goto a team with minimal pressure that isnt a contender.
why not pitch till your 50? If you can get hitters out.
I say go Jamie go

It was really a great year for Jamie this year……the injury came at the worst possible time as he was pitching better than he had in a while. I would have loved him as a pitching coach someplace because he will be great in that role.

Jamie Moyer will be a great coach and possibly a great manager. I will always root for him, except if he pitches against the Phils. A genteman and a great competitor. The epitome of “The Crafty Veteran Pitcher.” Best of luck, Jamie.

True WFC. Good guy…does a lot of charity work. And he absolutely loves the game of baseball. He’ll be missed. @Karen – I agree, he’ll be a coach when his playing career is over. He’s always talkin someones ear off in the dugout. Would make a great teacher. I’ll cheer for him wherever he winds up playing this year, maybe next? I mean heck he could still be around at 50+ he has the passion. How cool would it be if he pitched against his son?

I will add that, given where our starting rotation ended up by the postseason, it can be easy to forget that for the first couple months of the season this guy was indisputably our 4th starter if not our 3rd. When no one except Halladay and Hamels could get it together (and Hamels was inconsistent early on), Moyer gave us some really tremendous games.

It really shows the guy’s love for the game that even now, even knowing that the most lucrative days of his career are in the past, he is still going to rehab this injury and try to keep pitching until his arm falls off. Hell, if his arm fell off he’d probably teach himself to pitch right-handed and keep going. People have counted him out before and he’s always proved them wrong, so wherever he ends up I’ll be pulling for him all the way as he tries to prove everyone wrong again.

Seems to me like he’s trying to stick around to get his 300th win. I doubt he’d be able to get it, but….Hey! Who ever would of thought he’d still be pitching at 47? If you tell him he can’t do it, it only makes him work harder

When Jamie was a kid, he was told that he was too skinny and not to expect to pitch. He showed them wrong. Last year, with 4 surgeries in period of only a few months at age 46, everyone said he wouldn’t be back. They were wrong. This year, he pitched a few complete games, something his young contemporaries were unable to do. When he injured his elbow this year, people said he’s done, he’ll never pitch again. This past month, he was pitching in the bullpen, up to 48 pitches in a day, rehabbing the elbow slowly. He said it felt good to be pitching again. His heart and mind are still on the mound. I have no doubt he will be back pitching somewhere next year. If it isn’t with the Phils, then it’s our loss. He did so much for our team beyond pitching! Young athletes should take note that he will do it without performance enhancing drugs to boot! I think he’s going for either 300 wins, or to pitch until the number on his shirt-50 yrs. old. What Jamie sets his mind to, he will do. Good luck with winter ball! Continue the rehab and see you somewhere in spring training!

Go out in stile Jamie,,RETIRE,,you have not only won a lot of games but you have tutored a lot of young guys along they way,and made them much better pitchers, an thats just in the phillies organization ,plus the other teams you were at u h…ave touched many ballpayers,,And THANK YOU for always standing outside signing autographs before games everyday except when you pitched,not one other player did that game after game ,year after year ,THANK YOU,,,BE A COACH AND BE ONE HERE IN PHILLY,,YOUR ALREADY BELOVED BY US PHANS NOW BECOME IMMORTALIZED